Gustav Schade Maschinenfabrik, Industrial machinery factory in Dortmund, Germany.
The Gustav Schade Maschinenfabrik was an industrial facility specializing in conveyor systems and transport belts designed for mining operations throughout the Ruhr region. The site produced heavy machinery custom-built for mines, making it a key supplier serving the entire area.
The company started in 1880 as a small blacksmith workshop and grew rapidly as mining expanded throughout the region. Over the decades, the operation developed from a craft-based shop into a large factory employing hundreds of workers.
The factory was deeply embedded in the local mining community, providing machinery and equipment that kept mines operating throughout the region. Workers and mine operators depended on these systems daily, making the business a vital part of how people made their living.
The former main administration building still stands at the original location and today houses the engineering office Schmidt. After most other factory structures were demolished in 2006, this administration building remains as a reminder of the site's former industrial importance.
During World War II, employees used an underground tunnel stretching several hundred meters as shelter during air raids. While the factory produced military equipment, workers relied on this hidden passage to escape bombing attacks.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
